Description: The Tupolev Tu-95 is a turboprop-powered strategic bomber, dubbed Bear by NATO, developed by the Soviet Union to hit targets deep inside the United States soil. The T-95 design derived from the T-4 bull bomber. Powered by four NK-12M turboprop engines rated at approximately 12,000-shp to 15,000-shp each aircraft had longer range and slightly lower cruise speed than turbojet powered bombers of the early 1950s. The engines drive eight-blade counter rotating propellers which are more efficient than traditional propellers and features a swept wing. Overall, Tu-95 strategic bomber equipped with nuclear weapons can cruise at speeds over Mach 0.82 on the later models such as the Tu-95MS. It first flew on November 12, 1952. The Soviet Union Air Force deployed the Tu-95M high altitude bomber equipped with free fall nuclear weapons in April 1956.

The Tu-142, Bear-F NATO codename, is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and maritime patrol aircraft derived from the Tu-95M strategic bomber. The aircraft has an stretched fuselage and is equipped with a ventral search radar, sonobuoys, torpedoes, mines and depth charges. The Soviet Union introduced the Tu-142 aircraft in 1970. The Tu-142M introduced some airframe modifications and a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD). The Tu-142MR Bear-J was intended to serve as a communications relay between the Soviet Navy and its nuclear-powered submarines sailing across the world. The Tu-142LL is another modification intended to serve as an engine test bed platform. India was the only export customer taking delivery of eight Tu-142M maritime patrol aircraft in 1988. India plans to replace its existing Tu-142Ms by the P-8I aircraft by 2015. As of 2010, Russia has not released plans for a Tu-142 and Il-38 replacement yet.